Resilience in the recovery process from bereavement: A systematic review of intervention studies

Abstract

There are few empirical intervention studies to promote resilience of the bereaved, and the number of systematic reviews is even more limited. The purpose of this study was to 1) evaluate the effectiveness of intervention studies to promote resilience in the recovery process from bereavement, and 2) identify methodological challenges. We searched electronic databases (Pubmed, EBSCO, Cochrane, Medical Finder, Ichushi-Web) using PRISMA guidelines. After screening 883 articles, 4 fulfilled inclusion criteria were extracted for review. Although the evidence was limited, it was suggested that interventions showed a moderate effect on improving psychological adaptation and mental health. In addition, the outcome of most articles dealt with depression, PTSD and pathological grief, and studies directly evaluating resilience were lacking. Well-designed randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis are needed to improve the quality of evidence.